Release device for safety ski bindings



Jan. 2, 1968 H. SCHEIB RELEASE DEVICE FOR SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Filed Dec. 27, 1965 FIG. 3

FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 6.

Hermann Saba 3,361,434 Patented Jan. 2, 1968 hire 3,361,434 RELEASE DEViCE FORSAFETY SKI BINDINGS Hermann Scheib, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, as-

signor to Hannes Marker, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,341 Claims priority, application Germany, Jan. 12, 1965, M 63,766 3 Claims. (Ci. 280--11.35)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A release device for safety ski bindings in which a free end portion of a pin-like release member is guided in a recess of a retaining member and the release pin is displaceable relative to the retaining member against spring force and is pivotably mounted to the release portion when it has been released by the retaining member. Means are provided for rotatably mounting the retaining member in a preselected number of definite angular positions and the retaining member has a preselected number of release paths of different lengths each path being associated with a particular one of said angular positions. The retaining member comprises a block formed with crossing retaining recesses and is mounted rotatable about an axis at right angles to the center plane of the retaining recesses.

In safety ski bindings it is desired to provide only for a limited number of settings of the release member for an adaptation to different weights and ditferent modes of skiing o f the users so that the user cannot adjust the ski binding with the aid of an adjusting screw at his own discretion to a release value which he deems correct but only three, four or five settings are provided :for, e.g., one setting for women and beginners, one setting for average skiers and one setting for racers.

A prior proposal of the applicant relates to a device [for adjusting the spring pressure in detent devices for releasable toe irons. According to this prior proposal, the adjustable abutment for the detent spring which loads the detent ball is adjusted by means of a cam, which is formed on or cooperates with the adjusting member, and this cam is provided with a plurality of notches, which are spaced around the periphery of the cam and receive the spring abutment after an adjustment whereas intermediate positions are not possible. In release devices which are intended to release the heel in the case of forward falls, it is in most cases impossible or unsuitable to adjust the spring pressure.

In those release devices for safety ski bindings, in which a free end portion of a pinlike release member is guided in an aperture or recess of a retaining member and the release pin is displaceable relative to the retaining member against spring force and is pivotally movable to the release position when it has been released by the retaining member, the object underlying the invention is accomplished in that the retaining member is rotatably mounted and is adapted to be locked in a limited number of angular positions, the retaining member having release paths of different lengths and each angular position having a release path length associated with it. As a result, the release member will be released when difierent spring displacements have been elfected, without need for an adjustment of the spring abutments, so that an adaptation to the above-mentioned physical properties and the skill of the skier, as outlined hereinbefore, is enabled.

In a particularly desirable embodiment, the retaining member consists of a cube or the like and is formed with crossing retaining apertures and rotatable about an axis which is at right angles to the center plane of the retaining apertures or recesses. This results in a particularly compact and inexpensive design of the retaining member.

The retaining member may be provided with a journal extension, which in a cross-section taken at right angles to the axis of rotation has the form of a regular polygon with rounded corners, the number of Which corresponds to the number of positions of the retaining member, the journal extension being mounted between two relatively movable retaining claws, which in their normal position define a bearing opening having a cross-section which corresponds to the cross-section of the journal extension. During an adjustment of the retaining member to another position, the retaining claws are spread apart to enable a rotation of the journal extension. When the desired new position has been reached, the retaining claws are moved toward each other, preferably by spring force, and enclose the journal extension so as to prevent an unintended adjustnrent.

In the following description, an illustrative embodiment of a release device according to the invention will be explained more fully with reference to the drawing. The release device is used in a known safety device, which is disposed behind the heel of the boot and engages the heel groove. This safety device is effective during a forward 'fail. The release device may be used for dilferent purposes too, particularly in known fore tighteners, in which a lever member is released and pivotally moved to the release position when a certain spring displacement has been effected, In the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a safety device which is associated with the heel and provided with the release device according to the invention.

P16. 2 is a perspective view showing the retaining member;

FIG. 3 shows the retaining member as viewed from the direction III in FIG. 1 in its four possible positions.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the movement of the retaining member to a difierent position.

FIG. 1 shows a safety device which is associated with the heel and etfective during a forward fall. The basic design of this device is the subject matter of a prior patent application of the applicant. The tightener lever 1 is articu'latedly connected at 3 to a tension element 2. The tightener lever 1 and the tension element 2 are pivoted at one end to spring retaining members 4 and 5, respectively. The two retaining members 4 and 5 have rounded sliding and supporting surfaces 6 and 7, which engage the heel groove of the skiing boot when the tightener is being closed and owing to their shearlike movement directed toward each other urge the heel of the boot forwardly. A roller 8 is rotatably mounted on the spring retaining member 4.

The retaining member 5 forms a part of an overload coupling, which is interposed between the tension element 2 and the associated cable end. The parts of this coupling come apart in response to excessive tension. The cable end portion 9 extends centrally through a coil spring 10, on which it bears at its rear end with a thimble 11. The latter is provided with a spring abutment 12, which is firmly connected or screwthreaded to the thimble 11. In the latter case, the thimble can be rotated to adjust the effective length of the cable. Beyond the spring plate 12, the thimble has a pinlike extension 13, which serves as a lockirrg member and is released in response to excessively high tension. The forward end of the coil spring 10 (the lower end in the drawing) rests on a supporting surface of the retaining member 5. This supporting surface is provided with a ridge so that the spring 10 with the cable end 9 and the thimble 11 is pivotally moved outwardly about this ridge as soon as the pinlike extension 13 has been released. The cable end 9 is guided in the retaining member by means of a slot, which is open toward the side so that the cable end can be entirely released from the retaining member 5 during the releasing operation.

The retaining member 4 is similarly provided with a coil spring 14, which supports the cable end 15 with the thirnble 16 and the spring abutment 17 interposed. The thimble 16 is also provided with a pinlike extension 18. This pinlike extension 18 is guided in an aperture of the angled portion 19 of the retaining member 4 in such a manner that the engagement between the pin 18 and the bearing member 19 will be maintained even after the greatest reduction of the length of the spring 14 which may be expected in practice.

According to the invention, a cube-like retaining member 20 is provided for retaining the pin member 13 and comprises two crossing retaining apertures 21 and 22, into which the closing pin can be selectively introduced from either side, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 4. FIGS. 2 and 3 indicate that the effective lengths of the retaining apertures differ in the four positions of the retaining member 20 because the pin member 13 is released when its rear end has moved past the forward (in the drawing lower) edge of the respective retaining aperture or recess. FIG. 3a shows the setting of the retaining member 20 for the longest release path. In this case the locking pin 13 will not be released until its rear end has reached the forward end face of the retaining member 20. FIGS. 3b-d illustrate the successive reduction of the length of the release paths by X X In the'illustrated embodiment, the retaining member 20 is provided with a square journal extension 23 having rounded edges, and a resilient plate 24 is secured by the screw 25 to the spring retaining member 5 and carries retaining claws 26 and 27 dior the journal extension. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the intermediate portion 28 of the resilient plate is reversely bent at its rear end about the rear end face of the spring retaining member 5' and when the spring 10 is being coupled the spring abutment 12 engages this portion 28 so that the latter is slightly elastically performed, until the forward end of the spring 10 has slipped over a hooklike elevation, not shown,'on the supporting surface of the spring retaining member 5. The portion 28 of the resilient plate then locks the spring 10 in its coupled position by means of the spring abutment 12. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the lateral portions 29 and 30 of the resilient plate are right-angled and partly engage the upper and lower surfaces of the spring retaining member 5. The bearing claws 26 and 27 are secured 5 by the screws 31 to the rear ends of the portions 29 and 30.

When an adjustment of the retaining member 20 to another position is desired, the resiliently mounted retaining claws 26 and 27 are temporarily spread apart, as is shown in FIG. 6, until the new position of the retaining member 20 has been reached. Then the retaining claws again embrace the journal extension of the retaining member in the position shown in FIG. 5.

What is claimed is:

1. In a release device for safety ski bindings, in which a free end portion of a pin-like release member is guided in a recess of a retaining memberand the release pin is displaceable relative to the retaining member against spring force and is pivotally movable to the release position when it has been released by the retaining member, the improvement comprising means for rotatably mounting the retaining member in a preselected number of definite angular positions, and the retaining member having a preselected number of release paths of different lengths, each release path being associated with a particular one of said angular positions, said retaining member comprises a block formed with crossing retaining recesses and is mounted rotatable about an axis at right angles to the center plane of the retaining recesses.

2. In a release device as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement that the retaining member includes a journal extension, which in a cross section taken at right angles to the axis of rotation has the form of a regular polygon with rounded corners, the number of sides of which corresponds to the number of positions of'the retaining member, and said means for mounting the retaining member including two relatively movable retaining claws for receiving the journal extension, said claws in their normal position define a bearing opening having a cross section which corresponds to the cross section of the journal extension.

3. In a release device as set forth in claim 2, the further improvement of resilient means for urging the retaining claws toward each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,858,138 10/1958 Dubois 280-1135 3,055,673 9/1962 Marker 280-11.35

3,305,242 2/ 1967 Marker 280-1135 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,3 80,775 10/1964 France.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

0 M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

